Description: Col. Douglas H. Cooper, Confederate commander of the Indian
Department, had not been able to reconcile differences with Chief Opothleyahola,
who commanded a band of Unionist Creeks and Seminoles. Cooper set out on
November 15, 1861, with about 1,400 men to either compel submission
. . . or “drive him and his party from the country.” His force rode
up the Deep Fork of the Canadian River towards Chief Opothleyahola’s camp
which they found deserted. On the 19th, Cooper learned from captured prisoners
that part of Chief Opothleyahola’s band was at the Red Fork of the Arkansas
River, where they were erecting a fort. Cooper’s men arrived there around
4:00 pm and ordered a cavalry charge which discovered that Chief Opothleyahola’s
band had recently abandoned the camp. The Confederates did find some stragglers
beyond the camp and followed them, blundering into Chief Opothleyahola’s
camp. The Federals fired into the Rebel cavalry and, in large force, came
out to attack them. They chased the Confederates back to Cooper’s main
force. Darkness prevented Cooper from attacking until the main enemy force
was within 60 yards. A short fight ensued but Chief Opothleyahola’s men
broke it off and retreated back to their camp. Cooper set out for Chief
Opothleyahola’s camp the next morning but found it gone. The Confederates
claimed victory because Chief Opothleyahola had left the area. This was
the first of three encounters between Chief Opothleyahola’s Union bands
and Confederate troops. The chief was forced to flee Oklahoma for Kansas
at the end of the year.